Just What Is A Productivity Commission, And Does Penang Need One?
Venue: Penang Institute
Date: Wednesday, 1 April 2026
Time: 8:00 – 9:30pm
Speaker: Michael Schaper MComm, PhD, FAICD
Moderator: Dato’ Dr Ooi Kee Beng (黄基明博士)
About the Talk
Over the last two decades, many governments have established Productivity Commissions—independent, statutory agencies designed to foster robust economic debate and future-oriented thinking, particularly around productivity. The first of these was Australia’s federal Productivity Commission, a model now followed by several countries and state governments.
What is a Productivity Commission? What role can it play in modern society, especially at the state level? How does it operate, and what outcomes can it achieve? This talk will explore these questions and consider lessons Penang can draw to improve productivity and competitiveness.
About the Speaker
Michael Schaper MComm, PhD, FAICD has extensive experience in research, public policy, industry representation, and academia. He is a member of the national board of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, chairs the Australia federal government’s Shadow Economy Advisory Forum, and holds chair positions at Energy Consumers Australia and the Energy & Water Ombudsman of Western Australia. Michael is also an Adjunct Professor at the John Curtin Institute of Public Policy and a senior visiting research fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. He has authored books on competition, franchising, entrepreneurship, and business policy, and previously served as Deputy Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
About the Moderator
Dato’ Dr Ooi Kee Beng (黄基明博士) is Executive Director of Penang Institute. With a Ph.D. in Sinology from Stockholm University, he has studied nation-building in Asia and Malaysian politics for three decades. Formerly Deputy Director at ISEAS and an Ericsson Electronics staff member, he is founder-editor of Penang Monthly & ISSUES, and a regular writer on regional affairs.
Event Summary
On 1 April 2026, Penang Institute hosted a public talk featuring distinguished speaker Dr. Michael Schaper. The talk examined the concept and relevance of a Productivity Commission as a statutory body that supports evidence-based policymaking and long-term economic planning. Originating from Australia’s experience, such commissions are designed to provide independent analysis, evaluate policy trade-offs, and stimulate informed public debate on productivity and competitiveness.
Beyond explaining its structure and functions, the discussion explored whether Penang would benefit from establishing its own Productivity Commission. Key considerations included the state’s economic ambitions, institutional capacity, and the need for a neutral platform to assess policies across sectors. The speaker highlighted how such a body could strengthen policy coordination, improve transparency, and offer strategic recommendations without political pressure.
During the session, concerns about productivity challenges within the public sector were raised, including inefficiencies, siloed decision-making, and limited performance evaluation mechanisms. The potential authority of a commission was also debated particularly how influential its recommendations could be without executive authority.
Audiences gained insights from Australian experiences, illustrating how sustained, independent review processes can shape better policies over time. Overall, the session encouraged reflection on institutional innovation as a pathway for Penang to enhance governance, productivity, and long-term competitiveness.